Adapter for drill speeder

ABSTRACT

A special adapter for receiving a drill speeder to enable the drill speeder to be handled by an automatic tool changer for insertion into and removal from a rotary spindle of a machine tool. The adapter provides for coupling the spindle of the machine tool to drive the drill speeder while retaining the outer housing of the drill speeder stationary without intervention by the machine tool operator.

e 4 United States Patent 1191 1111 3,

Woythal et al. Aug. 14', 1973 [54] ADAPTER non DRILL sPEEnER 721,9303/1903 Zellers 408/124 9,944 3 1925 E k 40B 124 [75] Inventors: RobertT. Woythal, West Allis; 55 mm I James L. Klrschnlk, Brookfield, both ofPrimary Examiner-Francis S. Hlusar [73] Assignee; Kearney & TreckerCorporation, Attorney-Cyril M. l-lajewski and Donald E. Porter WestAllis, Wis.

[22] Filed: Mar. 31, 1971 21 Appl. No.1 129,854 [57] ABSTRACT A specialadapter for receiving a drill speeder to enable Cl 90/11 279/1 the drillspeeder to be handled by an automatic tool 279/1 408/238 changer forinsertion into and removal from a rotary [51] Int. Cl 1323b 47/14 sindle of a machine tool, The adapter provides for [58] Field of Search408/ 124,238; coupling the spindle of the machine tool to drive the 29/1 1 90/11 A drill speeder while retaining the outer housing of the Ydrill speeder stationary without intervention by the ma- ReferencesCitfld chine tool operator.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,844,968 7/1958 Schwab 408/124 X 12 Claims, 3Drawing Figures fi 22 /z 60 57 1/ 1, 2 I m 1 6/ 25 40 6 56 T f0 22 We 1f5 f 2; 2'0 23 if 7 \L w 6 /4 l I. 4/

ADAPTER FOR DRILL SPEEDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The conventionaldrill speeder is adapted to be driven by a machine tool spindle forobtaining higher spindle speeds to expand the utility of the machine.The

drill speeder includes a spindle and a drive mechanism enclosed in ahousing. In operation, the drill speeder drive mechanism is coupled tobe powered by the machine tool spindle while its housing is heldstationary. The drive mechanism is arranged to rotate the drill speederspindle at a much higher rate than the rate of rotation of its input.

The present invention is directed to providing an adapter to enable theconventional drill speeder to be handled by a tool change mechanism forautomatically transferring the drill speeder between a tool storagemagazine and the spindle. In order to accomplish this, it is necessaryto fix the drill speeder housing against rotation while a drivingconnection is maintained between the machine tool spindle and the drillspeeder drive mechanism. This must be achieved automatically withoutintervention by the machine tool operator.

Moreover, when employed with a tool change mechanism in which the toolsin storage are identified by coding on the tools, it is necessary toprovide. such coding on the adapter for identification of the drillspeeder, or the drill carried therein. It may also be necessary toobtain a specific orientation of the tool coding when it is stored inthe magazine so that it is properly disposed for engagement with thecooperating reader which reads the coding for identifying theindividualtools.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide anadapter which will enable a conventional drill speeder to be transferredautomatically by a tool change mechanism between a tool storage magazineand a rotary spindle of a machine tool.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an adapter for adrill speeder which includes a mechanism that is automatically engagedwhen the adapter and drill speeder are moved into the rotary spindle ofa machine tool for rigidly retaining the fixed member of the drillspeeder while the drive mechanism of the drill speeder is coupledto themachine tool spindle for rotating the drill speeder spindle at arelatively high rate.

Another object is to provide an adapter for adrill speeder which may beidentified by suitable coding which will be orientated automatically forproper relationship with the reader that reads the coding.

SUMMARY The adapter of the present invention comprises a hollowcylindrical forward portion which receives the outer housing of thedrill speeder. The housing of the drill speeder is fixed to thecylindrical portion to prevent relative rotation. The cylindricalforward portion of the adapter is provided with a key, and when theadapter is moved into a keyway formed in the frame of the machine toolto rigidly secure the cylindrical portion of the adapter as well as thedrill speeder housing.

Extending rearwardly of the cylindrical portion is a coupling memberwhich is rotatable relative to the cylindrical portion and couples thedrive mechanism of the drill speeder to the machine tool spindle to forma driving connection between these two elements when the adapter is inoperating position in the machine.

In the illustrated embodiment, the adapter is provided with coding onthe coupling member for identifying the unit in the storage magazine. Inorder to enable the coding to be read by its cooperating reading head inthe magazine, the coding must be angularly orientated into apredetermined position to establish the required relationship with thereading head that-is associated with the tool storage magazine.Accordingly, means are provided to lock the coupling member to thecylindrical portion of the adapter when the adapter is removed from thespindle to prevent relative rotation between these two members. When theadapter is inserted into the machine tool spindle, the lock isautomatically released to permit the necessary rotation of the couplingmember with the spindle relative to the hollow cylindrical portion ofthe adapter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FlGpl is a view partly in side elevation andpartly in cross section showing an adapter constructed in accordancewith the present invention and supporting a drill speeder for actuationby the spindle of a machine tool;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the adapter illustrated in FIG. 1with parts broken away to show the means for retaining the drill speederin the adapter and for locking the cylindrical portion of the adapter toits coupling member for preventing relative rotation; and,

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation of the drill speeder assembled tothe adapter as depicted in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made moreparticularly to the drawings and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof whichillustrates an adapter constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthe present invention. The adapter is generally identified by thereference numeral 10 and is provided for the purpose of supporting aconventional drill speeder generally identified by the reference numeral11. The adapter 10 supports the drill speeder 11 so that the latter canbe transferred by a tool change mechanism between a spindle l2 and atool storage magazine (not shown). The adapter 10 and drill speeder 11are assembled together and the entire unit is transferred by the toolchange mechanism.

The drill speeder 11 functions to produce high spindle speeds forcertain drilling or similar operations. It comprises a housing 13 whichcontains a drive mechanism (not shown) andincludes an input 14 as wellas a rotary spindle 15 which mounts the conventional type of chuck 16for receiving a drill or other cutting tool. When mounted on the drillpress, the input 14 is drivingly engaged with the drill press spindleand the spindie 15 will be driven at a rate substantially faster thanthe rate of rotation of the drill press spindle. For example, the drivemechanism of the drill speeder may increase the rate of rotation of itsinput six times. However, in order to accomplish this, the housing 13must be held stationary. This may be done by manually holding thehousing 13 stationary or by clamping it to the quill of the drill press.In the present invention, the housing 13 is held stationary with.respect to the frame of the machine tool by the adapter 10.

The adapter 10 includes a hollow cylindrical forward portion 20 whichserves as a support for the housing 13 of the drill speeder 11 and alsorotatably supports a coupling member 21. The housing 13 of the drillspeeder 11 is disposed within the bore of the cylindrical portion 20 andis centered therein by a flexible O-ring 22. it is prevented fromrotating relative to the cylindrical portion 20 by a screw 23 disposedwithin a slot 24. The screw 23 extends through the slot 24 into threadedengagement with the housing 13. The width of the slot complements thediameter of the screw 23 to prevent any relative rotation between thehousing 13 and the cylindrical portion 20. However, the slot 24 iselongated to accommodate for different positions of the screw 23 in adirection parallel to the axis of the drill speeder 11. g

The cylindrical portion 20 of the adapter is prevented from rotatingrelative to the frame of the machine by a key 25 disposed to enter akeyway 26 formed in the spindle face plate 27 which is rigidly mountedon the machine. When the tool change mechanism (not shown) transfers theadapter 10 with the drill speeder 11 into the spindle 12 of the machinetool, the key 25 enters the keyway 26 to secure the cylindrical portion20 against rotation. Since the housing 13 is fixed with respect to thecylindrical portion 20 by means of the screw 23, the housing 13 islikewise prevented from rotating relative to the machine.

The couplingvmember 21 includes a forwardly extending shaft 28 which isjournalled within the cylindrical portion 20 by a pair of ball bearings29 and 30. The shaft 28 is provided with a tapered end 31 for engagementwith the complementary tapered opening 14 that functions as the powerinput for the drill speeder 11. The engagement of the tapered end 31 ofthe shaft 28 with the tapered opening 14 in the drill speeder 11 forms adrive connection for transmitting the power from the spindle 12 to thedrive mechanism of the drill speeder 11.

The coupling member 21 includes a rearward portion 35 which is disposedwithin the bore of the spindle 12 when the unit is in operatingposition. The rearward portion 35 corresponds in configuration to theconventional type of tool holder which is normally inserted into thespindle 12 for carrying a cutter which is to be used in a machiningoperation. it is provided with a ring gear 36 that engages an internalring gear 37 formed in the spindle 12. The meshing engagement of thering gear 36 with the internal ring gear 37 establishes a drivingconnection between the spindle 12 and the coupling member 21 so that thelatter will rotate with the spindle.

The adapter 12 is tightly secured within the spindle 10 by movable jaws40 in the same manner as the conventional tool holder would be securedin operating position in the spindle 12. The jaws 40 move towards theaxis of the coupling member 21 and to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, toengage a flange 41 which is formed on the rearward end of the couplingmember 21 and is identical to the flange which would be carried by theconventional tool holder for the machine. The means for actuating thejaws 40 will not be described in detail inasmuch as a completedescription of their operation is contained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,121issued to J. L. Martin on Nov. 11, 1969.

The jaws 40 exert axial pressure on the coupling member 21 in a rearwarddirection, to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, to bring an annular taperedsurface 45 formed on the exterior of the cylindrical portion 20 intopressure engagement with a complementary annular tapered opening 46formed on the face plate 27.

Since the tapered surface 45 is formed on the rigidly held cylindricalportion 20, the coupling member 21 is free to rotate with the spindle 12but the engagement of the tapered surface 45 with the tapered opening 46accurately aligns the adapter 10 with respect to the spindle 12.

The adapter 10 is provided with a tool coding structure generallyidentified by the reference numeral 50. The tool coding 50 serves toidentify the tool adapter 10 and cooperates with a tool reader (notshown) in the tool storage magazine (not shown) for automaticallyidentifying the adapter 10 for automatic selection in response to asignal from a suitable source, such as punched tape. Of course, theother tools in the tool storage magazine are similarly identified by atool coding structure 50 so that any one of the tools can be selectedfor insertion into the spindle 12 of the machine tool.

The tool coding structure 50 and its cooperating mechanism will not bedescribed in detail since it is not a part of the present invention andis fully described in co-pending application Ser. No. 797,812 filed Feb.10, 1969. For the purposes of this description, suffice it to say thatthe tool coding structure 50 is mounted on the rear end of the adapter10 and in order to cooperate with the tool reader (not shown) in thetool storage magazine (not shown), the tool structure 50 must bemaintained in a specific angularly orientated position. The machine toolspindle 12 is arranged to always stop in the same angularly orientatedposition and this is accomplished by well-known means. As a result, uponthe completion of its rotation, the coupling member 21 will always stopin the same angularly orientated position in which it was inserted intothe spindle 12. The cylindrical portion 20 of the adapter 10 remainsfixed with respect to the frame of the machine by reason of theengagement of its key 25 in the keyway 26 formed in the spindle faceplate 27. When the tool change mechanism (not shown) transfers theadapter 10 out of the spindle 12, it maintains the cylindrical portion20 in the same angularly orientated position, and the tool storagemagazine (not shown) also retains this angularly orientated position sothat when the adapter 10 is returned to the machine tool spindle 12, itskey 25 will be in position to again engage the keyway 26.

The coupling member 21 is retained against rotation relative to thecylindrical portion 20 during the transfer operation between the toolstorage magazine (not shown) and the spindle 12, as well as while theadapter 10 is being supported in the tool storage magazine. To this end,a slidable key 55 is provided in the key 25 for cooperation with akeyway 56 formed in the coupling member 21. The key 55 is attached to anarm for movement therewith along a guideway 57 formed in from the keyway56. When the adapter 10 is fully in-' serted, as shown in FIG. 1, thekey 55 is fully withdrawn from the keyway 56 and the coupling member 21is now free to rotate relative to its cylindrical portion 20.

In FIG. 2, the unit is shown separated from the spindle 12 so the key 55is within the keyway 56 to lock the coupling member 21 against rotationrelative to the cylindrical portion 20. Since the spindle 12 is arrangedto be orientated into a specific angular position every time itdiscontinues its rotation, when the rotation of the spindle l2 and thecoupling member 21 secured therein is stopped, the coupling member 21will be in the same angular position that it was when it was insertedinto the spindle 12. Accordingly, the keyway 56 will be in alignmentwith the key 55. As the adapter is withdrawn from the spindle 12, theopposing pressure on the spring 61 through the arm 60 will be relieved,and it will urge the key 55 into the keyway 56. After a short withdrawalmovement, the key 55 will be forced by the spring 61 into fullengagement with the keyway 56 so that the coupling member 21 will befixed against rotation relative to the cylindrical portion 20. Since theparticular angular orientation of the cylindrical portion is maintainedduring the tool transfer operation and storage, the tool coupling member21 will be likewise maintained in such same angularly orientatedposition. As a result, the tool coding 50 will be properly orientatedfor cooperation with the reading mechanism (not shown) which isassociated with the tool storage magazine (not shown). Moreover, thenext time the adapter 10 with the drill speeder 11 is returned to thespindle 12, it will be in the same angularly orientated position as itwas when it was previously removed from the spindle 12.

From the foregoing detailed description of the illustrative embodimentset forth herein to exemplify the present invention, it will be apparentthat there has been provided an improved adapter especially arranged toenable a conventional drill speeder to be employed in conjunction withan automatic tool change mechanism for a machine tool. The adapter ofthe present invention functions to secure the outer housing of the drillspeeder against rotation while coupling the drive mechanism of the drillspeeder for rotation by the machine tool spindle, all without anyinvention by the machine tool operator.

Although the illustrative embodiment of the invention has been describedin considerable detail for the purpose of disclosing a practicaloperative structure whereby the invention may be practicedadvantageously, it is to be understood that the particular apparatusdescribed is intended to be illustrative only and that the novelcharacteristics of the invention may be incorporated in other structuralforms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the subjoined claims.

The principles of this invention having now been fully explained inconnection with the foregoing description, we hereby claim as ourinvention:

1. In an adapter for supporting a drill driver for actuation by a rotarymachine tool spindle, said drill driver having a housing enclosing adrive mechanism which may be actuated to rotate a drill carrying spindlefor rotating the drill;

supporting means inthe adapter for carrying the drill driver;

means for securing the housing of said drill driver to prevent itsrotation in said supporting means;

a key mounted on said supporting means for engagement with a keywayformed in the frame of the machine tool to fix said supporting meansagainst rotation relative to the machine tool frame; and

a coupling member rotatably supported in said adapter and arranged tocouple the machine tool spindle for actuating said drive mechanism sothat the drill driver spindle will be rotated by the rotation of themachine tool spindle operating through said drive mechanism.

2. An adapter according to claim 1, including clamping means mounted onsaid supporting means and actuatable to secure said coupling memberagainst rotation relative to said supporting member.

3. An adapter according to claim 2, including means for releasing saidclamping means when said coupling member is operatively engaged tocouple said spindle to the drive mechanism of the drill speeder, and toactuate said clamping mechanism for securing said coupling memberagainst rotation when said coupling member is disengaged from saidspindle.

4. In an adapter for supporting a drill speeder for actuation by arotary machine tool spindle, said drill speeder having a housingenclosing a drive mechanism which rotates aspindle at a rate faster thanthe rate of rotation of the input to said drive mechanismy a support forcarrying the drill speeder;

means for securing the housing of said drill speeder to said support toprevent its rotation relative to said support;

a coupling member rotatably supported by said support and extendingoutwardly therefrom for inser tion into the machine tool spindle;

first coupling means on said coupling members engageable with themachine tool spindle for forming a driving connection from the spindleto said coupling member when said coupling member is in said spindle;and,

second coupling means on said coupling member engageable with the drivemechanism of the drill speeder for forming a driving connection fromsaid coupling member to the drill speeder;

whereby when said coupling member is inserted in the machine toolspindle, it is connected to be driven by the spindle and transmits therotation of the spindle to the drive mechanism of the drill speeder foractuating the drill speeder.

5. An adapter according to claim 4;

wherein said support is a hollow cylinder and the drill speeder housingis secured in the bore of said cylinder.

6. An adapter according to claim 5;

wherein the drill speeder housing is received within the forward portionof the bore of said hollow cyl;

inder, and said coupling member is journalled in the rearward portion ofthe bore of said hollow cylinder.

7. An adapter according to claim 4;

wherein said securing means comprises a key engageable with a keyway inthe frame of the machine tool for securing said support and itsassociated drill speeder housing against rotation as the drill speederis being actuated by the machine tool spindle.

8. An adapter according to claim 4;

including locking means actuatable to lock said coupling member againstrotation relative to said support; and,

releasing means for disengaging said locking means when said couplingmember is inserted into the machine tool spindle to release saidcoupling member for rotation relative to said support.

1 9. An adapter according to claim 8;

wherein said locking means comprises a key slidably carried by saidsupport and slidable into a keyway formed in said coupling member forlocking said coupling member against rotation relative to said support.

10. An adapter according to claim 9;

a spring mounted in said support to continuously urge said slidable keyinto engagement with its cooperating keyway in said coupling member forpreventing relative rotation;

an arm attached to said slidable key in position to engage the frame ofthe machine tool when said coupling member is being inserted into themachine tool spindle and to move said key against the pressure of saidspring out of its cooperating keyway when said coupling member is fullyinserted into the spindle to release said coupling member for rotationrelative to said support.

11. In a drill driver for actuation by a rotary machine tool spindlewhich is supported by the frame of the machine tool, said drill driverhaving a housing enclosing a drive mechanism which may be actuated torotate a drill carrying spindle for rotating the drill;

a coupling member rotatable relative to said drill driver housing andadapted to be inserted into the machine tool spindle for transmittingthe rotary drive from the machine tool spindle to said drill drivemechanism for rotating the drill;

means on said drill drive housing that moves into engagement withcooperating means on the frame of the machine tool when said couplingmember is inserted into the machine tool spindle to fix said housingagainst rotation while said coupling member is being rotated by themachine tool spindle;

locking means in engagement with said housing and said coupling memberto fix said coupling member against rotation relative to said housing.when the drill driver is removed from the machine tool spindle; and

release means actuated by the insertion of said coupling member into themachine tool spindle to release said locking means so that said couplingmember can be rotated relative to said housing.

12. A drill driver according to claim 11 wherein said locking meanscomprises a guideway formed in said housing;

a key slidably carried in said guideway;

a keyway formed in said coupling member to receive said key for fixingsaid housing and said coupling member against relative rotation;

a spring mounted in position to continuously urge said key intoengagement with said keyway; and said release means comprises an armextending from said keyway in position to engage the frame of themachine tool and to be forced by the frame against the pressure of saidspring to withdraw said key from said keyway when said coupling memberis inserted into said spindle to thereby free said coupling member forrotation relative to said housing by the machine tool spindle.

1. In an adapter for supporting a drill driver for actuation by a rotarymachine tool spindle, said drill driver having a housing enclosing adrive mechanism which may be actuated to rotate a drill carrying spindlefor rotating the drill; supporting means in the adapter for carrying thedrill driver; means for securing the housing of said drill driver toprevent its rotation in said supporting means; a key mounted on saidsupporting means for engagement with a keyway formed in the frame of themachine tool to fix said supporting means against rotation relative tothe machine tool frame; and a coupling member rotatably supported insaid adapter and arranged to couple the machine tool spindle foractuating said drive mechanism so that the drill driver spindle will berotated by the rotation of the machine tool spindle operating throughsaid drive mechanism.
 2. An adapter according to claim 1, includingclamping means mounted on said supporting means and actuatable to securesaid coupling member against rotation relative to said supportingmember.
 3. An adapter according to claim 2, including means forreleasing said clamping means when said coupling member is operativelyengaged to couple said spindle to the drive mechanism of the drillspeeder, and to actuate said clamping mechanism for securing saidcoupling member against rotation when said coupling member is disengagedfrom said spindle.
 4. In an adapter for supporting a drill speeder foractuation by a rotary machine tool spindle, said drill speeder having ahousing enclosing a drive mechanism which rotates a spindle at a ratefaster than the rate of rotation of the input to said drive mechanism; asupport for carrying the drill speeder; means for securing the housingof said drill speeder to said support to prevent its rotation relativeto said support; a coupling member rotatably supported by said supportand extending outwardly therefrom for insertion into the machine toolspindle; first coupling means on said coupling members engageable withthe machine tool spindle for forming a driving connection from thespindle to said coupling member when said coupling member is in saidspindle; and, second coupling means on said coupling member engageablewith the drive mechanism of the drill speeder for forming a drivingconnection from said coupling member to the drill speeder; whereby whensaid coupling member is inserted in the machine tool spindle, it isconnected to Be driven by the spindle and transmits the rotation of thespindle to the drive mechanism of the drill speeder for actuating thedrill speeder.
 5. An adapter according to claim 4; wherein said supportis a hollow cylinder and the drill speeder housing is secured in thebore of said cylinder.
 6. An adapter according to claim 5; wherein thedrill speeder housing is received within the forward portion of the boreof said hollow cylinder, and said coupling member is journalled in therearward portion of the bore of said hollow cylinder.
 7. An adapteraccording to claim 4; wherein said securing means comprises a keyengageable with a keyway in the frame of the machine tool for securingsaid support and its associated drill speeder housing against rotationas the drill speeder is being actuated by the machine tool spindle. 8.An adapter according to claim 4; including locking means actuatable tolock said coupling member against rotation relative to said support;and, releasing means for disengaging said locking means when saidcoupling member is inserted into the machine tool spindle to releasesaid coupling member for rotation relative to said support.
 9. Anadapter according to claim 8; wherein said locking means comprises a keyslidably carried by said support and slidable into a keyway formed insaid coupling member for locking said coupling member against rotationrelative to said support.
 10. An adapter according to claim 9; a springmounted in said support to continuously urge said slidable key intoengagement with its cooperating keyway in said coupling member forpreventing relative rotation; an arm attached to said slidable key inposition to engage the frame of the machine tool when said couplingmember is being inserted into the machine tool spindle and to move saidkey against the pressure of said spring out of its cooperating keywaywhen said coupling member is fully inserted into the spindle to releasesaid coupling member for rotation relative to said support.
 11. In adrill driver for actuation by a rotary machine tool spindle which issupported by the frame of the machine tool, said drill driver having ahousing enclosing a drive mechanism which may be actuated to rotate adrill carrying spindle for rotating the drill; a coupling memberrotatable relative to said drill driver housing and adapted to beinserted into the machine tool spindle for transmitting the rotary drivefrom the machine tool spindle to said drill drive mechanism for rotatingthe drill; means on said drill drive housing that moves into engagementwith cooperating means on the frame of the machine tool when saidcoupling member is inserted into the machine tool spindle to fix saidhousing against rotation while said coupling member is being rotated bythe machine tool spindle; locking means in engagement with said housingand said coupling member to fix said coupling member against rotationrelative to said housing when the drill driver is removed from themachine tool spindle; and release means actuated by the insertion ofsaid coupling member into the machine tool spindle to release saidlocking means so that said coupling member can be rotated relative tosaid housing.
 12. A drill driver according to claim 11 wherein saidlocking means comprises a guideway formed in said housing; a keyslidably carried in said guideway; a keyway formed in said couplingmember to receive said key for fixing said housing and said couplingmember against relative rotation; a spring mounted in position tocontinuously urge said key into engagement with said keyway; and saidrelease means comprises an arm extending from said keyway in position toengage the frame of the machine tool and to be forced by the frameagainst the pressure of said spring to withdraw said key from saidkeyway when said coupling member is inserted into said spindle tothereby free said coupling member for rotation relative to said housiNgby the machine tool spindle.